If you are working with Microsoft Excel, you may come across situations where you need to merge or combine multiple columns. It could be for data cleaning purposes, to create a new column that contains the information from two or more columns, or simply to improve the readability of your Excel sheet. Whatever the reason may be, merging columns in Excel is a simple process. Here are some methods that you can use to combine columns in Excel:
Method 1: Using the & operator
The easiest way to combine columns in Excel is to use the & operator. This operator is also known as the concatenation operator. It allows you to join two or more strings or cell values into one text string. Here are the steps to use the & operator:
- Select the cell where you want to merge columns.
- Type the formula =A1&B1, where A1 and B1 are the cell references of the columns you want to merge.
- Press Enter.
- The text from both columns will be combined into one cell.
- Copy the formula and apply it to the rest of the cells in the column.
Method 2: Using the CONCATENATE function
If you have multiple columns that you want to merge into one, you can use the CONCATENATE function. This function allows you to combine up to 255 strings or cell references. Here are the steps to use the CONCATENATE function to merge columns:
- Select the cell where you want to merge columns.
- Type the formula =CONCATENATE(A1,B1,C1), where A1, B1, and C1 are the cell references of the columns you want to merge.
- Press Enter.
- The text from all three columns will be combined into one cell.
- Copy the formula and apply it to the rest of the cells in the column.
Method 3: Using the TEXTJOIN function
The TEXTJOIN function is a newer function that was introduced in Excel 2016. This function allows you to combine strings or cell values with a delimiter. The delimiter can be a comma, space, or any other character of your choice. Here are the steps to use the TEXTJOIN function:
- Select the cell where you want to merge columns.
- Type the formula =TEXTJOIN(“,”,TRUE,A1:C1), where “,” is the delimiter you want to use, TRUE specifies that empty cells should be ignored, and A1:C1 are the cell references of the columns you want to merge.
- Press Enter.
- All the text from the columns will be combined into one cell, separated by the delimiter.
- Copy the formula and apply it to the rest of the cells in the column.
FAQs
1. Can I split a merged cell into its original components?
Yes, you can split a merged cell into its original components by using the Text to Columns feature. Here are the steps to split a merged cell:
- Select the merged cell you want to split.
- Click on the Data tab in the ribbon.
- Click on the Text to Columns button.
- Choose the Delimited option and click Next.
- Select the delimiter that was used to merge the cells and click Next.
- Choose a format for each of the columns and click Finish.
- The merged cell will be split into its original components.
2. Can I merge cells in Excel using a shortcut?
Yes, you can merge cells in Excel using a shortcut. Here are the steps to merge cells using a shortcut:
- Select the cells you want to merge.
- Press Alt + H + M + M.
- The cells will be merged into one cell.
Conclusion
Merging cells in Excel is a simple process that can be done using various methods. The easiest and quickest way is using the & operator, while the most flexible way is using the TEXTJOIN function. Whichever method you choose, make sure to select the cells carefully, as merging cells is a permanent change that cannot be undone.